OrilliaMatters received the following letter from former federal cabinet minister and long-time local MP Doug Lewis regarding the recent debate on abortion.
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A political party is composed of people who share the same basic political beliefs.
However, that doesn't mean that members of the same political party cannot have their own personal beliefs about some issues. In fact, that kind of diversity is healthy in a political party as it stimulates debate and thinking within the party and caucus.
As a conservative supporter, provincially and federally, I have always been pro choice.
When Prime Minister Brian Mulroney asked me to serve as Attorney General and Minister of Justice in early 1989 the abortion issue was front and centre. I thanked him but reminded him that I was pro choice. To my relief he replied: “Don't worry, you will do just fine.”
Dealing with the abortion issue consumed a great deal of my time and effort. It resulted in a one paragraph bill that passed the House of Commons in the fall of 1989 but failed in the Senate after I had moved on to Minister of Transport.
The debates in the House of Commons were a fine example of Parliamentarians debating a sensitive issue and at the same time respecting different views, within their own party, and within other parties.
That brings me to the reason for this letter.
I understand from the media that the federal Liberal Party recently issued a fundraising letter crticizing a dozen or so Conservative Members of Parliament for attending a pro life rally.
Supporters were urged to contribute to the Liberal Party in order to prevent these MPs and others from forming government after the election in the fall.
At this point, let me digress to say that in this day and age party fundraisers sometimes “go rogue” in their quest to raise money. Sometimes they abandon common sense and common decency.
As a regular donor at both levels of the Conservative Party I have taken issue with their approach and tell them so. I regularly tell provincial fundraisers that it is inappropriate to call asking me to donate provincially when a federal election is scheduled for this fall.
I reject the Liberal Party's approach that targets a Member of Parliament or prospective Member of Parliament because of their personal beliefs on sensitive issues. The responsible Liberals that I know would not support this approach.
Let's go at it in the next election. Let's debate party policy, style and method of governing, and other issues. But let's respect the fact that we can differ on issues of a personal nature within the party and across the aisle.
Besides, if the Liberal Party fundraisers understood the make-up of the Liberal Party, they would find that a fair number of their supporters and even present Liberal Members of Parliament are pro life supporters.
Hon. Doug Lewis
Orillia
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